A BRACE from Kibu Denis secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Simba Sports Club in their CAF Confederation Cup Group A clash against Tunisian side CS Sfaxien at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium yesterday.

Kibu's last-minute winner capped off a remarkable comeback for Simba, who had fallen behind early in the game. The result earned Simba another vital three points, with the group’s other match between Algeria’s CS Constantine and Angola’s Bravos do Maquis scheduled to take place later that evening.

CS Sfaxien stunned the home crowd by scoring in just the third minute. Hazem Haj Hassen capitalized on a defensive error when Che Malone Fondor's misjudged back pass to goalkeeper Moussa Camara was intercepted. 

Haj Hassen calmly slotted the ball through Camara’s legs to give the visitors an early lead.

Simba responded quickly, leveling the score in the eighth minute. Kibu found the back of the net with a perfectly timed header off a well-placed free kick from Jean Charles Ahoua, sending the home fans into rapturous celebration.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, but they failed to capitalize on key opportunities. In the 33rd minute, Leonel Ateba squandered a golden chance to put Simba ahead after a miscommunication between CS Sfaxien defender Hichem Baccar and goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen left the goal exposed. 

However, Ateba's shot sailed over the crossbar.

Ahoua also came close with an acrobatic effort that narrowly missed the target, while Moussa Camara redeemed himself with a crucial save in the 43rd minute, punching away a powerful shot from Achref Habbassi to keep the score level at halftime.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. In the 90+7 minute, substitute Yusuph Kagoma delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and Kibu rose highest to head the ball past Dahmen, sealing a thrilling victory for Simba.

The win elevated Simba to six points, putting them level with group leaders CS Constantine, who had won their first two matches. 

Angola’s Bravos do Maquis were on three points, while CS Sfaxien remained rooted at the bottom of the table with no points after back-to-back defeats.

Yesterday's triumph was crucial for Simba SC as they strengthened their bid for a spot in the knockout stages of the CAF Confederation Cup. 

With the top two teams from each group advancing, this result significantly bolstered Simba’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

Simba starting line-up:

Moussa Camara, Shomari Kapombe, Mohammed Hussein (C), Abdulrazack Hamza, Che Malone Fondor, Fabrice Ngoma, Debora Fernandez, Jean Charles Ahoua, Awesu Awesu, Leonel Ateba, Kibu Denis

Coach – Fadlu Davids

CS Sfaxien starting line-up:

Aymen Dahmen, Rayane Derbali, Hichem Baccar, Haythem Ayoun, Mohamed Nasraoul, Pedro Sa, Firas Sekkouhi, Moussa Conte, Achref Habbassi, Hazem Haj-Hassen, Mohamed Dhaoui 

Coach – Alexandre Santos